CEFS offers paid work experience opportunities to high school students Posted on November 22, 2021 The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) provides a Youth Training and Education Program that provides services such as paid work experience, tuition assistance for occupational training in an approved program, job search assistance, resume development, leadership skills, job readiness training and supportive services such as transportation, childcare, tools, uniforms and more. The program’s objective is that each participant will achieve high school diploma attainment, increase basic reading and math skills, create a marketable resume and secure employment or attend post-secondary education/training while enrolled in the program. C.E.F.S. is a partner of the Local Workforce Development Area #23, which receives WIOA funding to provide activities that increase employment, retention, earning and skills in the American workforce. Through partnership with LWIA 23, CEFS provides guidance with job readiness, job search, work-based learning and classroom training needed to secure and retain employment and become self-sufficient. To meet general eligibility requirements, an applicant must be a resident of Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Lawrence, Marion, Moultrie or Richland counties in Illinois, be a US Citizen and be compliant with selective service requirements. Online applications for Youth Services are available for the spring semester at cefseoc.org/wioa-online-application. Local businesses interested in becoming a Youth Work Experience work site will provide training and development of employability skills to students and young adults at no cost to the company. Local employers mentor and cultivate future potential employees as the youth participant works part-time hours, and wages are paid by CEFS. To be eligible, an employer must have the desire to supervise and mentor young adults with little to no work experience as well as document and submit biweekly hours worked to CEFS. For more information on Youth Services eligibility or how to become an approved work site contact, CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation at cefs@cefseoc.org or 217-347-2102. -30-
SAB and Foundation host Subs and Scholarships Posted on November 17, 2021 The Lake Land College Foundation Scholarships, which are open November 1- February 1, and again August 1 – 31 for the 2022-2023 academic year. The Foundation awards students more than $400,000 worth of scholarships in a range of amounts up to $5,000. For more information, visit https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/foundation/scholarships/ Additionally, we promoted the COVID-relief funds that provide financial assistance to students to help cover educational expenses, such as tuition and fees, course materials, technology, food, housing, transportation, or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus such as health care (including mental health care) or childcare. Students do not have to repay these grant funds. In addition to the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), the college has additional funding available to assist students through the HEERF funds authorized through the American Rescue Plan. This fall, Lake Land College prioritized the distribution of these funds in three tiers: 1. Students with the most financial need, based on their FAFSA 2. Students enrolled in programs that have high costs for tools, supplies or tests 3. Any student with a self-identified area of need Students enrolled in the fall as of the tenth day of the semester, will have the opportunity to request funds due to hardships experienced throughout the pandemic. Full-time students enrolled in at least 12 credit hours can request up to $1,000 and part-time students enrolled in three to 11 credit hours can request up to $500 to assist with educational expenses. The request form will be available in the Laker Hub, the student portal. Students may still apply if they have not done so and they can call or stop by the Financial Aid office with questions: Financial Aid 217-234-5231 or financialaid@lakelandcollege.edu. Students who have completed the application for Fall for these funds should watch for information about the opportunity in the Spring semester.
Lake Land College announces 2021 Philanthropy Award recipients Posted on November 11, 2021 The Lake Land College Foundation recognized the 2021 Philanthropy Award recipients as well as incoming and outgoing board members at the October Foundation Board of Directors meeting. The 2021 Philanthropy Awards include the Outstanding Philanthropist Award, The Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award and The Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award. The Outstanding Philanthropist Award went to the Burnham Neal Charitable Trust. The Fuqua Foundation earned The Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award, and The Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award recipient was Preston Smith. “Congratulations to our 2021 Philanthropy Award recipients,” Executive Director for College Advancement Christi Donsbach said. “We are so proud to honor this very deserving group of individuals and organizations that have supported the Lake Land College and Foundation over the last 50 years.” Also recognized were the board members rotating off of the Board of Directors after their second term ending in 2021. These included board members Michelle Blackwell, Mike Bohannon, Brian Hutchins and Lisa Kallis. The Foundation would also like to welcome new board members Angela Downs of Paris, Kellie Eastham of Paris, Austin Frank of Mattoon and Tyler Micenheimer of Effingham. “I would like to express my gratitude to our outgoing board members on their incredible dedication over the years,” Donsbach said. “The Foundation has experienced amazing growth under their leadership and expertise. I am also excited to welcome our newest board members and appreciate their commitment to serve in this capacity. I continue to be amazed with the sincere allegiance of our very own alumni and community members who dedicate their time, talent and treasures to be our board members.” The 2021 Foundation Board of Directors slate of officers includes President Deacon Patient, Vice President Rich Hartke and Secretary Renee Huckstead. The most recent past president is Tom Grunloh. For information on the Foundation or to take a look at the most recent Foundation Annual Report, visit lakelandcollege.edu/foundation/. -30-
Lake Land College to host Laker Visit Day Posted on November 8, 2021 Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 3 in the Luther Student Center, giving potential students the opportunity to learn about The Laker Advantage and how it can guide them on the path to success. Attendees will tour campus with a student ambassador, who will share information from a student perspective. Participants will also meet with faculty to learn more about specific programs. Representatives from many services, including Counseling Services, Career Services, Student Accommodations & Mental Health Initiatives, TRIO Student Support Services, Health Services and more will be available to provide information and answer attendees’ questions. A parent/guardian session will be offered as well to provide information relevant to potential parents or guardians of future Lakers. “This is a great opportunity for people to get to know the campus and learn about all the great things Lake Land has to offer,“ Michelle Zumbahlen, coordinator for strategic student communication & initiatives, said. “I highly encourage anyone considering attending to come to this event” For more information or to register, visit lakelandcollege.edu/visit. -30-
Preparing for the automation of the future Posted on October 19, 2021 October 2021 Editorial Earlier this month hundreds of area high school students witnessed the impressive automation and robotics of area businesses as part of the national Manufacturing Month celebration. These Manufacturing Day events are critical to helping young people realize that careers in manufacturing, especially those of the future, involve a high level of skill and knowledge. As Lake Land College prepares for its next strategic plan, it is taking into consideration the significant impact automation technologies and intelligent machines will have on the U.S. labor market. According to The Future of Work in America: People and Places, Today and Tomorrow, in the next decade, these changes will put many jobs that are automatable at risk. While less than 5% of jobs can be automated entirely, more than half of jobs can have up to 30% of their activities automated using current technologies. As jobs move forward, how work is organized and the mix of jobs will change based on available technology. As a result, businesses, educators and workers will have to adjust to jobs that require higher cognitive and technological skills. These changes will cause gaps in employment especially in rural America, where The Future of Work in America authors speculate more than 25% of workers could be displaced. Areas less affected by automation are more likely to have diversified economies and workers with higher educational attainment. The occupational categories impacted the most by automation include some of the largest occupational categories, such as office support, food service, production work, customer service and retail sales. Many businesses important to our local economy fall into these categories. While some occupations will lose jobs, other occupations such as healthcare, STEM occupations, creative fields and business services, will see strong growth. Certain occupations may see both displacement and growth, as the automation of some tasks will result in the shifting of more non-automatable tasks to current workers. According to the Higher Education in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the skills needed for an automation economy are different than the skills accentuated by higher education in the past. The prioritized top ten skills needed by employers are: complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgment and decision making, service orientation, negotiation and cognitive flexibility. Ultimately, the increasing reliance on automation in occupations leads to higher salaries, however, these higher salaries can only be acquired with advanced education and skills. This means that workers with only high school diplomas are the most likely to be displaced by automation and technology. In the Lake Land College district, only about 17.8% of residents have a bachelor’s degree, which is almost half of the statistic for all Illinois residents at 34.7%. However, on average, the number of people with an associate degree in Lake Land’s district are at the same level or higher than Illinois or the nation at 8.5%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Automation, the skills needed to succeed in the workplace and educational attainment are just a few of the topics College staff researched for the recently published Trend Analysis in preparation for developing the 2023-2026 Lake Land College Strategic Plan. Please be a part of our strategic planning process by taking a five-minute survey to help us in the process of identifying the goals and objectives for our next strategic plan. I invite you to review the information presented in the Trend Analysis or quick-facts Executive Summary to consider how we can work together to serve the next generation of students, residents and businesses in our communities. Dr. Josh Bullock Lake Land College President
Lake Land College introduces new medical assistant completion program Posted on September 30, 2021 Lake Land College recently introduced a medical assistant completion program for those who have a Certified Medical Assistant certificate from somewhere other than Lake Land College and would like to earn an associate degree as a medical assistant. “This is a great opportunity for people already working in this field to advance their careers,” Medical Assistant Program Instructor and Director of the Medical Assistant Program Molly Yeske said. The program offers students the opportunity to earn an associate degree as a medical assistant based upon qualifications they have already earned elsewhere. As a current student in the program, Rhonda Lambes said she was extremely grateful for the opportunity to further her professional training. “I knew right away that this scenario was about as perfect as it gets,” Lambes said. “I knew I had to do this for myself.” Another student, Jami Duffy, said she decided to enroll in the program for her own personal gain as well as to inspire her employees. Duffy recently took on an administrative position in her workplace, and she said she felt compelled to lead her employees by example. “It says a lot about someone’s dedication to their employer and employment when they are willing to invest in their education,” Duffy said. Not only are graduates of the program more likely to have a broader range of employment opportunities, they can also become more well-versed and marketable with their abilities and even earn pay or position raises in some situations. For more information about how to get involved in the program, contact Yeske at 217-234-5055 or myeske@lakelandcollege.edu. https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ALH-MAP-Completion-Program-VD-0921-2.mp4 -30-
Your input is valuable in our next strategic plan Posted on September 28, 2021 How can Lake Land College serve you? That question serves as the foundation for a year-long process the Lake Land College Strategic Planning Committee announced in early September. To kick off the process, the committee published a comprehensive Trend Analysis Report that provides key takeaways from research on state, national and global trends affecting higher education as well as demographic data for the Lake Land College district and the diverse communities it serves. The report and Executive Summary are published on the college’s website at lakelandcollege.edu/creating-our-future. As a community college, Lake Land serves all or parts of 15 counties and 31 school districts as district #517. It is the second largest geographical district in the state and is about the same size as the state of Connecticut. Led by Lake Land College Chief of Staff Jean Anne Grunloh, the strategic planning committee’s work in fiscal year 2022 will set the stage for the next four-year planning cycle, fiscal years 2023-2026. The college’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. “Lake Land College is excited to plan for the future and create a strategic plan that serves our next generation of students,” Grunloh said. “To accomplish this, we will be implementing a process that is deliberately inclusive of our internal and external stakeholders including community members, students and staff.” Lake Land is inviting all community members, students and staff to complete a brief five-minute survey to assist in the process of identifying the goals and objectives for the next strategic plan. The five-minute survey is available at lakelandcollege.edu under the About Us menu/About Us Links/Strategic Plan. “Our goal is to develop an innovative and adaptive strategic plan that addresses local, state, national and global trends impacting higher education and positions Lake Land to meet the student and workforce needs in a post-pandemic environment,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “To accomplish this goal, we need to hear from community members, business leaders, alumni, current students and future Lakers.” To learn more visit lakelandcollege.edu and look for the About Us menu and then Office of the President/Strategic Plan. ###
Lake Land College to host virtual nursing information sessions Posted on September 22, 2021 Lake Land College will be hosting virtual nursing information sessions on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. as well as Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. Attendees will learn why Lake Land’s Nursing programs are ranked third in the state, as well as the various options for a nursing career. The informational sessions are customized to meet the interests of those considering a career in healthcare to those who have been working in the nursing field for years and would like to advance in their careers. Those who attend the first session will hear from nursing faculty members on the admissions process and learn why Nursing Explorer ranked Lake Land College’s nursing programs third in the state. This event is intended for prospective students and will take place at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7. The second session will be a chance for high school students who have applied through the Partnership for College and Career Success program to hear from Lake Land College nursing faculty members on the admissions process for the Associate Degree Nurse program. Students eligible for the program have received invitation letters for the event and are encouraged to attend. This event will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7. By attending the second session, current licensed practical nurses (LPN) can hear from nursing faculty members on the admissions process for the Associate Degree Nurse program. This PN to ADN Admissions Process session will take place at 6 p.m. on Oct. 14. To register for one of the sessions or to learn more, visit lakelandcollege.edu/visit. -30-
Lake Land College to host first annual Math & Science Open House Posted on September 8, 2021 Lake Land College math and science faculty will host the first annual Math & Science Open House from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 24. The event allows high school juniors and seniors to learn more and ask questions about Lake Land math and science academic programs such as chemistry, biology, physics, math and engineering. Tours of facilities and labs will allow those interested to see and experience the state-of-the-art technology and equipment available to students in these programs. As part of the biology lab tour, participants will also have the opportunity to view a cadaver. “We are fortunate to have labs furnished with up-to-date equipment that go a long way in preparing our students to be successful when they graduate or transfer,” Division Chair of Math & Science/Biological Science Instructor Ikemefuna Nwosu said. “Our hope is that when students and their parents or guardians visit the open house, they can get a hands-on perspective of the quality education they will receive at Lake Land College.” The event will consist of three sessions based on different aspects of the math and science programs at Lake Land. The first session will include information about geographic information systems (GIS). GIS links data and descriptions to specific locations, allowing users to connect patterns and context within that data. The second session will include information about biological science, and the third session will involve physical science. As part of these sessions, faculty will be presenting hands-on demonstrations showcasing equipment, animal specimens, cadavers and laboratory experiments that are part of the Laker experience that provides students an advantage when transitioning to the workforce or to four-year universities. For more information or to register for the event, visit lakelandcollege.edu/visit. -30-
Lake Land College to host Laker Visit Day Posted on September 3, 2021 Lake Land College will host Laker Visit Day from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 11 in the Luther Student Center, giving potential students the opportunity to learn about The Laker Advantage and how it can guide them on the path to success. Attendees will tour campus with a student ambassador, who will share information from a student perspective. Participants will also meet with faculty to learn more about specific programs. Representatives from many services, including Counseling Services, Career Services, Student Accommodations & Mental Health Initiatives, TRIO Student Support Services, Health Services and more will be available to provide information and answer attendees’ questions. A parent/guardian session will be offered as well to provide information relevant to potential parents or guardians of future Lakers. “This is a great opportunity for people to get to know the campus and learn about all the great things Lake Land has to offer,“ Michelle Zumbahlen, coordinator for strategic student communication & initiatives, said. “I highly encourage anyone considering attending to come to this event” For more information or to register, visit lakelandcollege.edu/visit. -30-